The Buddhist faith evolved over the centuries to incorporate an expanded pantheon of deities, including Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, compassionate celestial beings known as bodhisattvas, as well as a range of protective deities, frequently of fearsome appearance. Buddhism had traveled a long way from its simple beginnings. When Buddhism declined in India proper during the twelfth century, this later esoteric form continued to flourish in the Himalayan territories of Nepal and Tibet.